rats is no fun for anyone. I’ve tried it. You make the most of your three days. We’ll come again next year. You’re sure you’d rather I didn’t write to say you had never touched the houseboat?”
“Much rather.”
“Very well. Come in and see Vicky and have some tea.”
As soon as they had watched Swallow ’s brown sail disappear beyond the Lookout Point and the north end of the island, Able-seaman Titty and the boy left the landing-place and went to the harbour.
“This isn’t a secret place,” said the boy.
“Any place is secret if nobody else is there,” said Titty. “Besides, we’re going up on my rock, where I was when I saw the bird that bobbed and flew under water.”
“Will the bird be there?”
“I don’t know. He may be.”
“Then it won’t be secret.”
“Yes it will. Birds don’t count. There’s nobody on the whole island except us and the mate, and she’s sewing on buttons. How many buttons has she got to sew?”
“Dozens,” said the boy. “One from each sleeve and then all the others came off the front when I tried to get both my shirts off at once.”
“That’ll take her a long time,” said the able-seaman. “This place will be as secret as any place could possibly be. Come on. Take your shoes and stockings off.”
They took their shoes and stockings off and left them on the beach. Then they paddled across the shallow to the big rock at the side of the